5 Stocks Pushing The Basic Materials Sector Lower

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model

All three major indices are trading down today with the Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI) trading down 53 points (-0.4%) at 13,873 as of Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, 11:50 AM ET. The NYSE advances/declines ratio sits at 851 issues advancing vs. 2,047 declining with 117 unchanged.

TheStreet Ratings group would like to highlight 5 stocks pushing the sector lower today:

5. Devon Energy ( DVN) is one of the companies pushing the Basic Materials sector lower today. As of noon trading, Devon Energy is down $1.27 (-2.2%) to $55.30 on average volume Thus far, 2.7 million shares of Devon Energy exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 3.7 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $54.96-$56.42 after having opened the day at $56.35 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $56.57.

Devon Energy Corporation, an independent energy company, engages primarily in exploration, development, and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. Devon Energy has a market cap of $24.5 billion and is part of the energy industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 35.6, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 16.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are 12 analysts that rate Devon Energy a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 10 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Devon Energy as a hold. Among the primary strengths of the company is its solid financial position based on a variety of debt and liquidity measures that we have evaluated. At the same time, however, we also find weaknesses including a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself, feeble growth in the company's earnings per share and deteriorating net income. Get the full Devon Energy Ratings Report now.

4. As of noon trading, Dow Chemical ( DOW) is down $0.51 (-1.6%) to $31.13 on light volume Thus far, 1.7 million shares of Dow Chemical exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 7.8 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $31.07-$31.50 after having opened the day at $31.49 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $31.64.

The Dow Chemical Company manufactures and supplies chemical products used as raw materials in the manufacture of customer products and services worldwide. Dow Chemical has a market cap of $38.8 billion and is part of the chemicals industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 46.0, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 0.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are 2 analysts that rate Dow Chemical a buy, 4 analysts rate it a sell, and 13 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Dow Chemical as a buy. The company's strongest point has been its a solid financial position based on a variety of debt and liquidity measures that we have looked at. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had lackluster performance in the stock itself. Get the full Dow Chemical Ratings Report now.

3. As of noon trading, LyondellBasell Industries ( LYB) is down $1.98 (-3.3%) to $57.88 on heavy volume Thus far, 3.2 million shares of LyondellBasell Industries exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 4.2 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $57.28-$59.31 after having opened the day at $58.63 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $59.86.

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. manufacturers and sells chemicals and polymers, refines crude oil, produces gasoline blending components, and develops and licenses technologies for the production of polymers. LyondellBasell Industries has a market cap of $35.2 billion and is part of the chemicals industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 12.3, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 7.2% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are 12 analysts that rate LyondellBasell Industries a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 3 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates LyondellBasell Industries as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its compelling growth in net income, revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, notable return on equity and attractive valuation levels. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows low profit margins. Get the full LyondellBasell Industries Ratings Report now.

2. As of noon trading, Halliburton Company ( HAL) is down $1.09 (-2.6%) to $40.53 on average volume Thus far, 7.0 million shares of Halliburton Company exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 11.0 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $40.50-$41.43 after having opened the day at $41.36 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $41.62.

Halliburton Company provides various products and services to the energy industry for exploring, developing, and producing oil and natural gas worldwide. It operates in two segments, Completion and Production, and Drilling and Evaluation. Halliburton Company has a market cap of $39.9 billion and is part of the energy industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 15.4, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 23.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are 22 analysts that rate Halliburton Company a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 5 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Halliburton Company as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, good cash flow from operations, solid stock price performance and notable return on equity. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income. Get the full Halliburton Company Ratings Report now.

1. As of noon trading, Exxon Mobil Corporation ( XOM) is down $0.40 (-0.4%) to $88.57 on light volume Thus far, 3.5 million shares of Exxon Mobil Corporation exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 13.1 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $88.46-$89.00 after having opened the day at $88.79 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $88.97.

Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas, and manufacture of petroleum products, as well as transportation and sale of crude oil, natural gas, and petroleum products. Exxon Mobil Corporation has a market cap of $407.2 billion and is part of the energy industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 9.2, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 3.2% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are 6 analysts that rate Exxon Mobil Corporation a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 9 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Exxon Mobil Corporation as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its increase in net income, good cash flow from operations, growth in earnings per share and increase in stock price during the past year. Although the company may harbor some minor weaknesses, we feel they are unlikely to have a significant impact on results. Get the full Exxon Mobil Corporation Ratings Report now.

A reminder about TheStreet Ratings group: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

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